Roll Call Sees Storm Clouds Over Larson’s Leadership Spot.

Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call speculates today that Democratic losses in November could cause unhappy survivors to sweep U.S. Representative John Larson out of his #4 leadership position as chairman of the Democratic caucus.  Paper tags Larson as weakest member of leadership team and most vulnerable to a challenge should voters return fewer than 218 Democrats to the House of Representatives in November.

A reminder that Washington is one tough town comes in these quotes early in the long story:

“He’s sort of the court jester of leadership,” one senior Democratic aide said. “He’s good for a laugh. He doesn’t bring anything to the table.”

One Democratic lobbyist said, “He’s pleased as punch he’s just at the meetings.”

Pelosi severely eroded Larson’s power when he first took the conference job by handing the Caucus’ member services and incumbent protection portfolio and staff to Rep. Chris Van Hollen as part of a deal to keep the Marylander running the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for a second term. Van Hollen also secured the job of Assistant to the Speaker.

Another senior Democratic aide said Larson is clearly the weakest member of the leadership but doesn’t think he will face a challenger next Congress unless the party loses the majority. That’s in part because he still has Pelosi’s support and because the position isn’t quite the plum it used to be.

“Why cause a fight like that unless there is a real reason to do it?” this aide said. “And there isn’t a real significant role for the Caucus chair right now. It doesn’t control money, and it’s not about strategic policy ideas.”

You can find Roll Call here.